Boro appeal Juninho work permit snub

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will lead a club delegation tomorrow to appeal against a decision to refuse Brazilian Juninho a work permit.

The 29-year-old’s initial application has been rejected by the Department of Employment because he falls just short of the requirement that he should have played in 75% of his country’s competitive fixtures over the last two years.

McClaren and chief executive Keith Lamb will travel to Sheffield tomorrow to argue the club’s case as they attempt to have the decision overturned at an appeal hearing.

However, Boro remain confident that Juninho will be granted a permit so that his £6m (€9.5m) return to the Riverside Stadium can be completed.

The DoE had little choice but to reject the first application because the former Atletico Madrid player did not fulfil the appearance criterion, but the Teessiders believe that his quality, as demonstrated at the recent World Cup finals, from which he returned with a winners’ medal, will see him through.

“I am confident,” Lamb told the club’s official website, www.mfc.co.uk. “Juninho has won 42 caps for Brazil and has played in the World Cup final. I’m sure that he’s of sufficient quality.

“There are only two Brazilian players who would automatically qualify for a work permit under the current regulations, and they are Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo.

“That’s because Brazil have a habit of alternating their players and playing different sides in different competitions.

“What is relevant is that Juninho played in the World Cup finals and is a regular member of their best team.”

Juninho was granted a work permit on appeal two seasons ago when he returned to the club on loan.

But Boro have had mixed fortunes on that front in recent years with Croatian Alen Boksic finding no problem when he arrived from Lazio, but a bid to bring in South African Benni McCarthy on loan last season stalled when he was refused the necessary paperwork on appeal.